Regional Meetings

The James Arthur Lecture Series Past Topics and Presenters

History of the James Arthur Lecture Series

James Arthur was born February 26, 1842, of Scottish parents at Crosscandley, Ireland. While he was still a child the family moved to Glasgow where he attended the technical school and trained in mechanics, metal and woodwork. At this early age he took an interest in horology and made sundials and started restoring and collecting clocks and watches. In November 1871 he came to the USA. His wife and the three older children followed in 1872. James Arthur was a skilled mechanic with knowledge of machinery and fine construction. Fourteen years after coming to the USA he established the Arthur Machine Works at 188-190 Front Street, New York, for the manufacture and repair of machinery in general and in particular for the construction of models for inventors. The business proved lucrative, as he was able to make a world tour in 1897, and added many interesting pieces to his collection throughout his lifetime. He continued working until he retired in 1912. He died at Winsted, Connecticut, April 27, 1930.

On December 1, 1925, he donated his horological collection together with a substantial endowment to New York University, specifying that part of the endowment should fund an annual lecture. Daniel W. Hering, Professor Emeritus of Physics, was appointed Curator. The original collection of 1,336 items was enlarged, principally by donation, so that by 1932 it amounted to 1,464 items made up of 224 clocks, 1,190 watches, and 50 books. Of particular interest are the original tallcase clocks he designed and made. His notebook No. 1 contains the original designs of 13 tallcase clocks built in his shop by himself or his workmen.

New York University never completed the reassembly and display of the items and, in 1964, they moved from University Heights to the present location in Greenwich Village. At that time they transferred most of the collection to the Smithsonian Institution. In 1982 New York University decided to dispose of the Arthur Collection, dividing the items between The Smithsonian Institution, the Time Museum at Rockford, and the NAWCC Museum at Columbia, Pennsylvania.

Ward Francillon was instrumental in making the James Arthur Lecture the keynote lecture of the Annual NAWCC Seminar, continuing that part of Arthur's original legacy which NYU had fulfilled only intermittently. The first NAWCC James Arthur Lecture was at the 1984 Seminar in Hartford, Conn. with Dana Blackwell as the speaker. Only the most eminent horologists are invited to give this lecture.

James Arthur Lecture SeriesTime and Its Mysteries: Sponsored by New York University 1932-1984

1932 Time Presenter: Robert Andrews Millikan

1933 Time and Change in History Presenter: John Campbell Merriam

1934 On the Life-time of a Galaxy Presenter: Harlow Shapley

1935 The Beginnings of Time Measurement and the Origins of Our Calendar Presenter: James Henry Breasted

1936 The Time Concept and Time Sense Among Cultured and Uncultured Peoples Presenter: Daniel Webster Hering

1937 What is Time? Presenter: William Francis Gray Swann

1938 Time and Individuality Presenter: John Dewey

1939 Time and the Growth of Physics Presenter: Arthur H. Compton

1940 The Astronomical Scale Presenter: Henry Norris Russell

1941 The Geologic Records of Time Presenter: Adolph Knopf

1946 Time and Historical Perspective Presenter: James T. Shotwell

Time and Its Mysteries

1949 Developments in Portable Timepieces Presenter: George P. Luckey

1951 The Early American Clock Making Industry Presenter: Brooks Palmer